This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

yes as previously discussed elsewhere, if you have a set of dietary/nutritional problems that are common in ms and can also allow a candida overgrowth to occur, it can definitely exacerbate the underlying problem via a positive feedback loop. personally i used to be both zinc deficient and had candida issues., both confirmed via lab testing. once i corrected poor nutritional status the conditions for potential candida overgrowth did not exist, no more zinc deficiency, and no more positive candida results.

A critical physiological role of zinc in the structure and function of biomembranes
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7017326
Abstract
"Of the large number of recognized zinc metalloenzymes, the activities of only a few are significantly decreased in severely zinc deficient animals. On the other hand, physiological pathology is manifested rapidly after dietary zinc deprivation. This shows that zinc exerts physiological and biochemical roles other than as a component of the known zinc metalloenzymes. The research results reviewed here suggest that zinc plays an important role in the maintenance of membrane structure and function."

Zinc Deficiency Induces Membrane Barrier Damage and Increases Neutrophil Transmigration in Caco-2 Cells
"Zinc may contribute to the host defense by maintaining the membrane barrier. In this study, we questioned whether zinc deficiency affects the membrane function and junctional structure of intestinal epithelial cells, causing increased neutrophil migration. We used the Caco-2 cell line grown in control (C), zinc-deficient, or zinc-replete medium until differentiation. Zinc deprivation induced a decrease of transepithelial electrical resistance and alterations to tight and adherens junctions, with delocalization of zonula occludens (ZO-1), occludin, β-catenin, and E-cadherin. Disorganization of F-actin and β-tubulin was also found in zinc deficiency. These changes were associated with a loss of the amounts of ZO-1, occluding, and β-tubulin. In addition, zinc deficiency caused a dephosphorylation of occludin and hyperphosphorylation of β-catenin and ZO-1. Disruption of membrane barrier integrity led to increased migration of neutrophils. In addition, zinc deficiency induced an increase in the secretion of interleukin-8, epithelial neutrophil activating peptide-78, and growth-regulated oncogene-α, alterations that were not found when culture medium was replete with zinc. These results provide new information on the critical role played by dietary zinc in the maintenance of membrane barrier integrity and in controlling inflammatory cell infiltration."

Zinc deficiency and immune function
http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10 ... 190.002215
"Zn deficiency in adult animals can result in abnormal immune function. Zn-deficient animals can show an increased susceptibility to a number of pathogens including Candida albicans, Francisella tularensis, Trypanosoma cruzi, and Trypanosoma"

The Dynamic Link between the Integrity of the Immune System and Zinc Status
http://jn.nutrition.org/content/130/5/1399S.short
"The results of more than three decades of work indicate that zinc deficiency rapidly diminishes antibody- and cell-mediated responses in both humans and animals. The moderate deficiencies in zinc noted in sickle cell anemia, renal disease, chronic gastrointestinal disorders and acrodermatitis enteropathica; subjects with human immunodeficiency virus; children with diarrhea; and elderly persons can greatly alter host defense systems, leading to increases in opportunistic infections and mortality rates. Conversely, short periods of zinc supplementation substantially improve immune defense in individuals with these diseases. Mouse models demonstrate that 30 d of suboptimal intake of zinc can lead to 30-80% losses in defense capacity. Collectively, the data clearly demonstrate that immune integrity is tightly linked to zinc status. Lymphopenia and thymic atrophy, which were the early hallmarks of zinc deficiency, are now known to be due to high losses of precursor T and B cells in the bone marrow. This ultimately leads to lymphopenia or a failure to replenish the lymphocytic system. Glucocorticoid-mediated apoptosis induced by zinc deficiency causes down-regulation of lymphopoiesis. Indeed, zinc itself can modulate death processes in precursor lymphocytes. Finally, there is substantial evidence that zinc supplementation may well reduce the impact of many of the aforementioned diseases by preventing the dismantling of the immune system. The latter represents an important area for research."

and, it's certainly well known although not universally communicated to patients by their docs, that antibiotics wipe out healthy microflora and a probiotic supplement is key. in australia at least, probiotics are commonly advertised on tv as a followup to any prescribed course of abx.